You probably hate me right now. Sorry, schedule is busy and might just get worse.
"Agron."
"Ag..grun?"
"No, Agron." Agron and Nasir were currently sitting in their chambers (they share since Agron is the only one Nasir trusts besides Spartacus). Agron decided that it was time to teach Nasir english. Talking to others, besides Agron, appeared to be difficult to Nasir since he doesn't speak their tongue.
"Agro..ronn." Nasir said. He was starting to get frustrated since he couldn't even say his only friend's name correctly.
"You are getting better, now again but say it at once." Agron said.
Nasir nodded and tried again. "Agro.." just before he said it, Crixus came in and told Agron that Spartacus was calling his presence.
Agron looked back at Nasir and said "We will resume later." then he left.
Apparently Spartacus wanted Agron to help with training. He easily agreed, he was in the mood for shoving faces into the sand.
Nasir walked out seeing Agron and Spartacus training with two men who seemed to be losing.
He walked over to a pillar and stood watching the swift movements by Agron and Spartacus. He did not notice that his eyes lingered more to Agron.
Nasir watched with curiosity and confusion. Why would men need to use sticks as defense when you can rip their throats or snap their neck. All the weight will just tire them out.
Again he saw the skinner man's face meet the sand. It was easy to see that the man used the same form when he went to attack. His eyes would linger to where he would make contact with, then he would step with his left foot first. While doing that he would swing his sword trying to hit the shoulder. He would stumble a little but make a full turn then lunge again stepping with his right. Another attack dodged. All this man is doing is stepping, attack, lunge, step with opposite foot, and attack again.
Every attempt was a fail and Nasir could easily see the man getting tired out. But Agron on the other hand, he seemed to be amused by this. Agron barely broke a sweat.
"Ha, my mother can swing a sword better than you." Agron taunted. That seemed to break a nerve in the man's brain. He full on lunged and swung his sword. But Agron swiftly moved aside letting the man yet again be face to face with the sand.
"You let anger control the way you attack, therefore you are clumsy. Try changing your strategies, be unpredictable." Agron said holding a hand out for the man. He took it and nodded then went to go get some water.
"Looks like you have an admirer." Spartacus said nodding towards Nasir.
Agron looked and made eye contact with Nasir. Nasir quickly averted his eyes from him looking somewhere else. Agron chuckled and called his name.
"Nasir!" Nasir looked back to Agron.
"Come over here." Nasir nodded and walked towards the men.
"I'll teach you to wield a sword." Agron said handing Nasir a practice sword.
"Why would I need a sword when I have hands?" Nasir said.
"Because swords are more likely to kill faster than bare hands." Agron replied.
Nasir nodded and understood.
"Here, hold the sword like this." Agron showed Nasir how to hold the sword by placing his hands in the correct spot. This felt odd to Nasir since he never held a sword.
"Good now, swing it like this." Agron swung his sword with Nasir following him.
"Looks like we have ourselves a fast learner, now make an attempt."
Nasir nodded and lunged towards Agron, but before he swung he faked a turn and hit his side.
Agron was shocked but smiled. "Are you sure you've never wielded a sword?" Agron asked.
Nasir nodded and grinned. He had been watching others train and quickly picked up their movements.
Spartacus walked up to them, having to seen everything and asked "Nasir is learning quickly, but still no match for me and Crixus."
"Is that a challenge my friend?" Agron asked.
Spartacus nodded "What do you say, me and Crixus vs. you and your friend Nasir?"
Agron looked to Nasir for approval. Nasir agreed and Agron told Spartacus they accept the challenge.
A few seconds later, a crowd surrounded them cheering for either side. The four men stood on opposite sides and prepared to duel.
"Remember, look for their weaknesses, find their routine." Agron said.
"Hey, no speaking in your tongue." Spartacus said grinning.
"You know very well he can't speak ours." Agron replied.
They both shared smiles and began.
It started with Crixus lunging at Nasir, but he quickly dodged. Agron was easily matched with Spartacus. It took a while for one of them to fall, which was Agron, but while on the ground, he swiped his leg under Spartacus causing him to join him on the ground.
Meanwhile Crixus makes many attempts to bring Nasir down, but Nasir was smarter than him and faster.
Nasir took Agron's advice and looked for his weaknesses and strategy. Crixus lunged first then swung. He quickly recovered after he would stumble, but still keep the same routine. His weakness seems to be his hip since he leaves that spot unprotected and open.
Nasir waits until Crixus lunges again, but this time he swings his sword towards his hip and making Crixus lose his balance and fall. The crowd cheered at Nasir's victory.
Agron and Spartacus were still at it, swinging their swords, dodging attacks. Until, Agron made the mistake of misplacing his foot causing him to lose balance. Spartacus took the opportunity to swiftly knock out his sword and push him down.
"You are getting better my friend, but your foot betrays you." Spartacus laughed.
Agron laughed with him and stood up. He looked towards Nasir seeing his victory.
"I see you defeated the mighty Crixus." Agron said.
"Little one got lucky." Crixus said grinning. "He will be a fine fighter."
"I took your word, he's easy to spot." Nasir said. Agron laughed. Questioning looks were cast at them.
"What did he say?" Crixus asked.
"He says that you show your openings very well."
"I am a skilled fighter, I have no weaknesses." Crixus said. That made Agron and Nasir snicker. "You think this is funny?" he said crossing his arms.
"Stand down Crixus." Spartacus said. "They are right, you show too much, that's something you need to work on. Besides, everyone knows you leave an opening to your hip, they just don't dare to make an attempt."
The three smiled while Crixus huffed and stormed away.
Just then a scream was let out. Everyone turned toward the sound. One of the men had killed a woman.
Nasir caught something in the corner of his eye. Slow movement and too suspicious. He looked to see another man draw his sword and head towards Agron.
Immediately Nasir picked up a sword and shouted "AGRON!" and threw it towards him.
Agron looked just in time to duck. The sword went through the man's chest killing him.
Meanwhile Spartacus took care of the other man. Something caught his eye and he checked to see what it was. When he picked it up, he grew angry and through it on the ground for everyone to see.
"Roman coins! They were traitors, taking payment from the enemy!"
Agron searched his attacker and finding the same coins found on the other.
"There could be others, how do we know who to trust?" a woman said.
Spartacus thought "We search everyone, anyone who is to be found with these, are to be killed."
Some of Spartacus trusted men started to search the people.
"I am grateful you saved my life." Agron said to Nasir.
"You are my friend, you would've returned the favor."
They both smiled at each other, and for a moment, Agron found himself not looking away from those beautiful eyes. He loved that smile that was shown on this beautiful man's face.
Nasir didn't know why Agron was staring at him but he couldn't look away either. Only when Spartacus was approaching that they both got out of their "moment".
"Nasir, that was amazing, where did you learn to do that? Spartacus asked.
Nasir looked to Agron telling him to translate for him. Agron nodded and translated for Nasir.
"He said that he found it faster to throw a sword at the enemy than to throw it at me and catch it. He was observing two men throwing spears and twisted sword fighting with spear throwing."
Spartacus nodded understanding. "You are very clever Nasir, we could use that." Spartacus said patting Nasir onto the shoulder.
"Oh and Agron, did you notice that Nasir spoke your name in our tongue?"
Agron looked to Nasir and realized that he did moments ago.
"Nasir, you spoke."
Nasir nodded blushing a little.
Agron gripped both Nasir's shoulders telling him "You are truly amazing." They both smiled and for the first time Agron felt something inside of him that he just couldn't explain. It confused him and he was anxious to find out.
"Spartacus, we found more roman coins!" one of his men said.
Spartacus looked angrily "Who is the traitor that should be punished?" he asked.
The man was hesitant, he didn't want to believe it, but it was possible. "I believe the traitor is...Nasir."